Labeling mechamtshl



' April 12 1927.

LABELING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 19, 1925 3 Shaets-She et 1 v INVENTOR@EOEGE 5 \Scr/EFFEY Patented Apr. 12, 19,237.

G-EGRGE 3B.

Mun.

LUNSFORD LONG, OF ROAIZI'OKE RAPIDS, NORTH CAROLINA.

LABELING MECHANISM.

Application filed. November 19, 1925. Serial No. 70,029.

My invention relates to mechanism for rapidly and economically applyinglabels to articles.

in the exemplifying embodiment here shown and described, the machine isparticularly adapted for applying end labels to relatively thin, flat,oblong articles such as cloth boards; but evidently the mechanism isadapted or adaptable for applying labels or similar paper strips orsheets to other more or less similar articles.

The general object of the invention is to provide simple and inexpensivemechanism which is largely, although not necessarily entirely, automaticin operation, and which may be operated by practically unskilled laborto rapidly and economically label articlessuch as cloth boards on ahigh-production basis.

'llo this end the mechanism embodying the invention as here representedincludes a label holder, an appliance such a rotary turret provided withone or more labeling pockets or similar Ll-:V1CQ-S, means for operatingthe turret to position labels succcssively in relation to the pockets,adhesively condition them, and present them for application to articlessuch as cloth boards, which are moved into co-cpe at-ion with thepockets or similar turret devices.

in some cs s the manipulation or teed of the artiel might be automatic,but for the sake of simplicity and economy the present specificmechanism is designed for hand-preientatimi ot the cloth boards or lararticles to the turret pool-tots or similar label applying (.levices.

The mar-net ristics and admntagcs otthe invention. are turthcrsuiliciently explained in connection with the following; detail deyiption oi the accompanying drawings,

' show one representative embodiot' the invention. After consideringthis example, skilled persons will understand that many variations maybe made, and l contemplate the employment ot' any strru'rtures that areproperly within the scope oi the appended claims.

in the drawings:

Fig. l is front elevation of a machine embodying the i t tion in oneform, with some parts broken away.

2 is a vertical section at 2 2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail in section at 3-3, 2, of one of the label-applyingdevices.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of one end of a labeled cloth board.

Fig. 5 is an elevation at the right of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section at 6-6, Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail at *Z-7, Fig. 6.

The machine is built on or around a frame comprising end uprights orstandards 1 connected by suitable cross members such as 2.

A rotary turret 3 has stub shafts 4L revolubly mounted in bearings inrock arms i which are pivotally mounted at a and adjustable stop nuts 4:maintain the arms in adjustable upright position and resiliently cushionthe turret to permit it to yield somewhat toward the right as viewed inFigs. 2 and 5. A magazine or holder 6 tor a stack of labels L ismounted. above the turret, usually in tilted or oblique relationthereto. Gluing mechanism 7 is located bolOW the turret. At the front oroperations side of the machine brackets 8 extend outward and areprovided With a table, or narlOW ledges 11, to support an article suchas a cloth board 13 and to properly position the board laterally as itadvanced to cooperate With the label-applying means.

The turret has one or a plurality of labelin; pockets 15. Conveniently,as in the present example, three of these pockets may be provided,equally spaced. At the outside of each pocket two part-eylindricallabel-rereiving4 segments 16 and 17 are provided, with their umtrontingedges separated by a space 18 of substantially greater width than thethickness of the cloth board to be labeled. l 'i itlliii each pocketnear the edges of the segments 16 and 17 are label pr rolls l9 rotatablymounted in spring supports 2(. Each leading label scgn'rent 1? has alongitudinal, spaced ries of suction holes 21 commuliieating with aturret channel 22 parallel to the relative axis. These channels areclosed at one end and at the other end (at the right in Fig. 1) theyco-operate with a part circular channel 23 formed in a stationarycircular valve plate 2 1 concentric With the turret axis. Cain devicesare provided for operating the label magazine, and for structuralconvenience these may be termed on cam plates 26 and 2'? separate fromthe turret and concentric therewith and secured against at oppositeends. Thus cam plate '27 as shown in Fig. dis interposed bet-ween theturret.

the end of the turret andvalve plate and is bored to provide an passages28 in line with the longitudinal passages 22 of At one end of the airchannel 23, which is the end of the channel first encountered by an airchannel 22 or its extension 28, a

valve cylinder 30 is provided to receive a cylindrical, or plug valve31, normally pressed inward to closed position by a spring 32. The valvethus normally acts to magazine sub-base 4:1 is mounted. The subbase llmay be slidingly adjusted and se cured on frame members e in anyknownior suitable way for the bodily "adjustment of the magazine inrelation to the turret. The

plate or sub-base l l has bearings in brackets 2, to receive tr unnionsl3connected to the magazine base a l, which is thus pivotally mounted inrelation to the sub-base ll and the turret. The base plate 44L alsohasstuds which run onthe peripheries of cam discs 47 formed as flangeson the cam plates 26 and27 above mentioned. Each of these cam discs hasperipheral notches48 correspondingin location to the center-s ot thelabeling pockets 15. Normally the magazine with its base plate l i isheld in elevated position by the roller-s46 running on the circularperipheri-esof the cam discs 4-7 but whenever one of the pockets ispositioned directly below the magazine to receive a label; the rolls 46drop into two of the aligned notches 48, and then'iac azine drops tobring the label close to the label-receiving seg ments .16 and 17. Themagazine proper comprisesa rear upright guide plate 50 provided withside flanges 51 and secured to brackets 52 which may be adjustablelongitudinally on the base 4A. The rearward or lower portions of the"label rest against plate 50 and are prevented from lateral displacementby the side flanges 51. The upper or forward portion of the stack issupported by spaced blades 55-havingnarrow bot-tom extensions '56 bentat right angles and lying under the stack. The blades 55 are secured toa rail '57, and this is supported by brackets 58', which may also beadjustable on the base 44:, so that by adjustment oft-he brackets 52 and58 labels of any size within a considerable range may be properlysupported. The lower or rearward portion 01' the stack bottom issupported by short. spaced blades 01' lingers 6O projecting from thebottom of the back plate 50.

The valve operating arm 85 above referred to :is secured to the magazinebase ll at and the valve is therefore actuated by the downwardmovemcntot the magazine as a label pocket is positioned below themagazine, as shown in Fig. 2.

The gluing mechanism includes :1 main glue roll carried by a shaft 71,which may also be the main drive hait ot the machine, and for thatpurpose is rovidcd with a drive pulley 71 driven by a belt 72 from anysuitable source of power, or an individual motor drive or any othersuitable driving means may be provided.

Preferably the drive pulley is keyed to the shaft so that the glue rollturns continuously. The periphery of the glue roll is positioned toengage with proper pressure, labels carried by the label segments 16 and17, and to insure proper contact, and also to provide for difi'erentthicknesses of labels the turret may be moved toward or from the glueroll by adjustment of the nuts l" above referred to.

The glue roll is in contact with a dipper roll 72 carried by a shaft 74having bearing-2 in arms 7 5 pivoted at 76. Screws 77 resting on framelugs 78 provide for proper adjustment of the dipper roll in relation tothe main roll 70. The dipper roll runs in a body of glue in a gluetrough 79. The dipper roll isdriven by a gear 80 engaging a pinion 81fixed on the main shaft 71.

The turret is intermittently driven from shaft 71 by any known orsuitable singlerevolution clutch, such as the pin or dog clutch 85 onshaft 71. With this clutch is associated a pinion 86 engaging; a gear 87on turret shai t 41, the ratio o'l these gears being one to three inaccordance with [he triplicate arrangement of labelii'lg pockets. Theclutch is controlled by the beveled end 88 of a lever 89 fulcrun'lcd at76, and the lever is controlled by a link 90 under the control of theoperator, for example, by means of a pedal (not shown) located near thefioor and convenient to the operator as he stands in front of themachine or at the left in Fig. 2. Single revolution clutches of thistype are well known and the details will therefore notbe described.When-ever the pedal is depressed link 90 acts to withdraw the member 8801 lever 89 and causes:

engagement of the clutch which then make one revolution and stops. Inthe revolution of the clutch, pinion 86 turns gear 87 and the turrentoneihird revolution.

Any known or suitable air exhauster may be employed to provide therequired sud all tion for label receiving and holding operations.Conveniently a rotary exhauster 100 is provided, driven by a pinion 101on its shaft 109. engaging a large gear 103 on the main or drive shaft'1' 1. The intake of the exhauster is connected by a flexible tube 105to a nipple 106 in connnunication with the part circular channel 23.

The turret 3 rotates clockwise as viewer in Figs. 2 or 5. As one of thelabeling pockts 2O approaches a position below the magazine holdinglabels L, the cam notches 4:8 corresponding to the pocket approach therollers all; and the rollers begin to urop into the notch withconcurrent depression of the magazine and its base plate 4 1:. One ofthe longitutlinal air passages 22 now eonnnenc s to come into registrywith one end of the part circular channel 23, but at this time the plug;valve 31 is in its inward or closed p silion, so that its inner endconfronts the end of the passage 22 or 28 and prevents the applicationof suction. As the cam rollers drop farther into the notches, thebeveled or angular end 33 oi arm 35 acts upon the valve and finally asthe rollers drop to the bottoms of the notches and the magazine is tallydepraised to the position of Fig. Q, the valve is opened and suction isquite suddenly applied to the passages 23, 28, 22 and the radialpassages This suction or vacuum effect draws the rearward end of thebottom label out from above the support fingers 62 and causes therearward. part of the label to adhere firmy to the label segments 1'4".The single revolution clutch 85 is djusted or positioned so that theclutch releases and tie turret is stopped at this moment, and the tableor ledges 11 provided tor the support of the cloth board B arepositioned so that the secend labeling poclzet in advance oi" the onethat has received a label is now sub slantially in line with the ledges.Attaia cloth hoz-rrd has been positioned and manipulated to receive alabel and removed, the operalor depresses the pedal connected to link 00to restart the turret.

in the lirst part of the turret movement the label PlQVlOllE-Tly ispedon holdin sea ncnt 17 is pulled from the bottom 0'? the tack and awayfrom the supporting lingers 56 and trails behind the segment 17 or liesupon the rear segment 16. When this label and its pocket reach the lowerrighbhand position of Fig. 2, the turret is again stopped while a labelis supplied to the upward label segment 1'? by the magazine and one end(it another cloth board is labeled. The turr t is ihen restarted and thelabel at the lower right hand position is ied past the glue roll Y0 andits outer face is covered with glue 'fll'ie label is then presented atlabel applying position, at the left, 2, with the label stretched acrossthe two label holding faces 15 and 17. The part-circular air chanpocket.The end of the board strikes the 1n1d-port1on ot the label and bends andpresses the label inward between the allixinc; rolls it), which wipe andpress the glued surfaces oi. the label upon the upper and lower surfacesof the board. The inner end of the pocket may be so positioned as toproperly limit the inward movement of the board with regard to thelength of the label portions, or other stop means may be provided. Thecloth board is then withdrawn, carrying;- with it the atlined label L asshown in Fig. l. The operator then restarts the turret, reverses thecloth board and labels the other end, and so on.

In some cases the clutch or stop action nay be omitted and intermittentdriving mecl'ianisi'n provided, which gives a sufficient dwell ot' theturret to permit the label 11th:;- ing operation; but usually the clutchor equiv alent stop mechanism is desirable in order to give suflicient,arbitrarily regulated time for the manipulation of the cloth board.

I claim:

1. Labeling mechanism for applying; labels to relatively thin, flatarticles such as cloth boards, comprising a rotary turret, a labelingpocketin the periphery thereof, formations at opposite sides of thePOClK" mouth to receive and hold a label extending; across said mouth,and means within the pocket for ii olding and applying a label acrossthe edge and upon opposite fares oi? the article as the same is advancedthrough the pocket mouth into the poclret and then retracted.

2. Labeling mechanism 'l'or applying labels to relatively thin, flatarticles such as cloth boards, comprising a. rotary turret a labelingpocket in the periphery thereof, formations at opposite sides of thepoo.- or mouth to receive and hold a label extending across said mouth,means within the pocket for folding and applying a label across the edgeand upon opposite faces of the article the same is advanced through thepocket mouth into the pocket and then retracted, a label stack holderand means for moving the holder in relation to turret movements to applya label to the pocket label-receiving formations.

3. Labeling mechanism for applying labels to relatively thin, flatarticles such ill l llll lIl-l formations at opposite sides of thepocket ing pockets, each pocket ha ving at opposite mouth to receive andhold a label extending across said mouth, one of said label TGCGlV- mgformations having suction means to grasp and hold the leading margin ofthe i label, and means w thin thepocket ior folu- .ing and applying alabel across the edge and upon opposite faces of the article as the sameis advanced through. the pocket mouth into the pocket and thenretracted.

, l. Labeling mechanism' for applying labels to relatively thin, flatarticles such ascl'oth boards, comprising a rotary turret, a labelingpocket in the periphery thereof, formations atopposite sides of thepocket mouth to receive and hold label extending across said mouth,means for applying adhesive tothe outer face of the label as it movestoWard labe'ling position, and means Within the pocketfor folding andapplying a label across the edge and upon opposite faces of thearticleras the same is advanced through the pocket mouth into the p dietand then retracted.

5. Labeling mechanism for applying labels to relatively thin, fiatarticles such as cloth boards, comprising a rotary turret, a labelingpocket in the periphery thereof, formations at opposite sides of thepocket mouth to receive and hold a label extending across said:moutlnmeans Within the pocket for folding and applying a label acrossthe edge and upon opposite faces of the article as the same is advancedthrough the pocket mouthinto the pocket and, then retracted, and meansvat a labeling station for supporting and directing the article formovement to, into and from the labeling pocket.

6. A labeling machine of the class described, comprising a rotary turrethaving in its periphery a'plurahty of spaced labelsides of the mouththereof, label receiving faces, one of said faces having a suctionaperture-to grasp and hold the leading margin of a label which extendsacross said mouth and lies upon the other of said label receiving faces,opposite applying and pressing devices yieldably mounted Within eachpocket for applying a label across the *end of an article such as acloth board and upon opposite "side faces thereof as the artificle isadvanced through the turretmouth past said applying devices and thenWithdrawn, and article supporting and guiding means arranged to directthe movement of articles to, into and from the successive labelingpockets. 7 g 7. A labeling --machine of the class described, comprisinga rotary turret having .in its periphery a plurality of spaced labelingpoel :ets,'each pocket having at opposite I 'sides of themouth thereof,labelreceiving faces, one of said faces having a suction aperturetograsp and hold the leading margin of a label which extends acrosssaid. mouth and lies upon the other of said label receiving faces,opposite applying and press- 70 ing devices yieldably mounted withineach pocket for applylng a label across the end of an article such as acloth board and upon opposite side faces thereof as the article isadvanced through the turret mouth past said applying devices and thenWithdrawn, adhesive applying means including a roll for applyingadhesive to the outer faces of successive labels passed in contact withthe roll'by the pocket label receiving faces, and

article supporting and guiding means arranged to direct the movement ofarticles to, into and from the successive labeling pockets.

8. A labeling machine of the class described comprising a rotary turrethaving in its periphery a plurality of spaced labeling pockets, eachpocket having at opposite sides of the mouth thereof, label receivingfaces, one of said faces having suction means to grasp and hold theleading margin of a label which extends across said mouth and lies uponthe ot ier of said label receiving faces, opposite applying and pressingrolls and spring supports therefor within each 9 pocket for applying alabel across the end of an article such as a cloth board and uponopposite side faces thereof as the article is advanced through theturret mouth past said applying devices and then Withdrawn, and 1article supporting and guiding means arranged at a labeling station todirect the movement of an article to, into and from a labeling pocketthere positioned.

9. Labeling mechanism comprising a turl ret, one or more labelingpockets therein, label applying means associated with the pockets,label-holding segments adjacent the pockets, and suction mechanismcomprising air passages communicating with one of the 1 segments of eachpocket, a main passage therefor, and a relatively stationary arciluleiss-age co-operating with said main passage to control the suctioneti'ect.

l0. Labeling mechanism comprising a tur- 7 ret, one or more labelingpockets therein, label applying means associated with the pockets,label-holding segments adjacentthe pockets, and suction mechanismcomprising an passages communicating with one of (he label applyingmeans associated with the pockets, label-holding segments adjacent thepockets, and suction mechanism comprising air passages communicatingwith one of the segments of each pocket, a main passage therefor, arelatively stationary arcuate passage co-operating with said mainpassage to. control the suction etlect, and a label magazine arranged topresent labels adjacent the label segments at one turret position.

12. Labeling mechanism con'iprising a turret, one or more labelingpockets therein, label applying means associated with the pockets,label-holding segments adjacent the pockets, and suction mechanismcomprising air passages communicating with one of the segments of eachpocket, a main passage therefor, a relatively stationary arcuate passageco-operating with the said main passage to control the suction effect,avalve at the interior end of said arcuate passage to out of? suctionapplication when said main passage is first positioned in relation tothe arcuate passage, a label magazine movably mounted in relation to theturret to supply labels to the label segments, means operated by turretmovement for moving the maga zine toward and from the turret, and meansoperated by magazine movement to control said Valve.

Signed at New York city in the county of New York and State of New Yorkthis 16th day of Novlorn A. D. 1925.

GEORGE E. SCHEFFEY.

